SAFETY PE-2620
10 X7502341200
© 1/2016 ECHO Inc.
Extended Operation / Extreme Conditions
Prolonged exposure to cold and/or vibration may result in injury.
Read and follow all safety and operation instructions to minimize
risk of injury. Failure to follow instructions may result in painful
wrist/hand/arm injuries.
It is believed that a condition called Raynaud’s Phenomenon, which affects the
fingers of certain individuals, may be brought about by exposure to vibration
and cold. Exposure to vibration and cold may cause tingling and burning
sensations, followed by loss of color and numbness in the fingers. The following
precautions are strongly recommended, because the minimum exposure, which
might trigger the ailment, is unknown.
• Keep your body warm, especially the head,
neck, feet, ankles, hands, and wrists.
• Maintain good blood circulation by performing
vigorous arm exercises during frequent work
breaks, and also by not smoking.
• Limit the hours of operation. Try to fill each
day with jobs where operating the unit or other
hand-held power equipment is not required.
• If you experience discomfort, redness, and
swelling of the fingers followed by whitening
and loss of feeling, consult your physician
before further exposing yourself to cold and vibration.
Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI)
It is believed that overusing the muscles and
tendons of the fingers, hands, arms, and
shoulders may cause soreness, swelling,
numbness, weakness, and extreme pain in
those areas. Certain repetitive hand activities
may put you at a high risk for developing a
Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI). An extreme RSI
condition is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS),
which could occur when your wrist swells and
squeezes a vital nerve that runs through the
area. Some believe that prolonged exposure to
vibration may contribute to CTS. CTS can cause
severe pain for months or even years.
To reduce the risk of RSI/CTS, do the following:
• Avoid using your wrist in a bent, extended, or twisted position. Instead try to
maintain a straight wrist position. Also, when grasping, use your whole hand,
not just the thumb and index finger.